Safety razor and blade sharpener



Jan. 4, 1949. I DONOVAN 2,458,257

SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE SHARPENER Filed June 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. E. DONOVAN SAFETY RAZOR AND BLAISE SHARPENER Jan. 4, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1946 a l-i b FZZZoz/m j Attorneys Patented Jan. 4, 1949 t1 D STAT E S- PAT ENT 0 FE MI E SAFETYZRAZORZAND BLADEzSHARPE'NER Albert E. Donovan, Laniel, Quebec, Canada Application 511111325, 1946;Serial:No.. 67930362 Exclaim (Cl. 513-158),

The present invention 1 p erta'ms 'to;.an: improve.- ment in shaving blade holders and sharpen'ers and more particularly to safety; razors-zand razor blade; sharpening: devicesn The mainobject therefore resideswinthe'provision of shaving and blade sharpening means'eof i nproved performance: andlof iacacharacten such that it is-adaptedtowusewthe .commonzGillettetype safety razor blade:

A further object of'the-invention is. theepro-- vision ofa-=razor 'b?ade=:holder adapted ztoiholdi theblade both" for. shaving and sharpeningpurposes;

Still another object contemplates: a: blade 1 sharpen-ing:device-- adaptedrzto" preserve: and restore, after use; the--sameckeen'edge2found 15111 a razor blade? when it leavesthe I factory..-

Another object is the provision of shavingand" blade sharpening: meansr=of= simple: design 'and economical construction.

Still another .obj eat 'is :to :provideaa substantially fiat abrading surface for sharpening said blade; thus ensuring intimatevhoning contact-sbetween the entire surface ofthe cuttingiedgeroi the 'blade' and said abrading surface;-

Still another objectcontemplatesza combination of the character describedwhavingz aiminimum of noving parts; being-rugged, and having} a a comparatively long life;v

Other. objects and advantages :of- 'the present invention will become apparent or be further pointedsout during: the description -t0.'fOl10W.-

As an example andv for purposes a of iillustraationlonly, a preferred embodiment otthex-invem tion is shown .inthe annexed drawings wherein .7

Figure 1 is a perspective view-0f the invention; with the vrazor Yin honing onstroppin-geposition.

Figure 2sis a partial-perspective view of the combination illustrated inFigure 1; showing the razor in removed position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of a. verticalcsection taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,.

Figure is an enlarged detail of avertical section taken .on the line .4'4 of Figurefi}.

.Zgure 5 is an enlarged detail of a vertical-sec! taken on the .li-neE-S lof Figure (2,"

ure 6 is:aplanhorizontalpartial section ongh the interior portion of rthelcasing; show-- ing the carriage with the razor. removed,

Figure-'7 is a general perspective view, partly in section, of the carriagerside.plateassembly,

Figure. dis a perspectivetviewofthe 'rocking means in the carriage,

Fignreiiis airont verticalicrossesection ofethe razor, thelinnenshaftheingishowminperspective Figure 10 is a composite perspective'vievwof thev razor.- head: e ement in disassembled. position;

Figure ll isfaipartialztransverse vertical section through thenhead'. of the razor and Figure- 12 -=sh0Ws& in enlargeddetail I a: partial:

perspective VlEtV of tharazor guard head:

As .-il'1ustrated, thewcombination conznists 1137a; sharpening casing generally=shownnat S: adapted to sharpen a razor generally shown? at -R':.;

form lateralsmarginalv :recesses- I is said side: recesses :-by-;means .ztosbe tdescribedtz.

The carriage'iC- consists inia skeleton structure having;two 'side piatesri 3 and I4 'facingaeachfother andointermediately' connected/by cross rods' [5.

Each side plate It and M isoutwardly'rbent'a-t the top: and; bottom: to :fOI'Hl'I: Ueshaped l channel members :i 3 and .tt slidablyvengaging respectiVe- P 'ly;'?,t 'l3htO1J, th bent porti'onril of sidewall illandgi at the bottom, a. rail-13 latera ly and longitudin'ally' extendingupwardly from the bottom of casing S. Eachaside plate ES-Eand M is furthermore provided with apa-i-r ofhal-f circular apertunes id diametri-cally opposed and -adaptedto' receive' the razorblade rocker described hereunder.

locating: slot" 69;

The -razor-blade rocking means is best shown inFi sJTa-nd '8; Thus; outside-'the-plates Wandit? a 'l' 'shapedplate-indicated by=T is pivotally" connected centrally "to each of the former: To this' end; a shait' or pintil' projects-'perpendicue 'larly' from the centre of 'eacnrocking member T and is rotatably andnomslida'bly journalled in each 'of'the plates iiiandM at theivirtual centres of the semi-circularapertures ieth'rough.

the latter. Between each ofatherplates T and the side walls E l-of'the casing is disposed a curved elongatediriction shoe 2!, and-fithismemberwill arms 22 extending .horizontallyifromits base and: adapted' to engage: apertures J8 0f plates liiaandw 5 t: and extend mscillatingly: therethrougha; t

The rocker T is iurthermoreazbent rat:theztoia-g:

Each'channel" member llii is centrally cut, 7 orrmiled; vertically to form a razorside-arm to form an angular finger 23 extending rearwardly therefrom.

The friction shoe 2! consists in a rectangular spring plate having at the central marginal top edge a pair of spaced right-angularly directed lugs 24 struck therefrom to provide a space for angular finger 23. The ends (it of friction shoe 2| are slightly bent inwardly and are adapted to press on the side plates l3 and Ill of carriage C. The back portion of said shoe 2i resiliently bearing on the inner side of walls Ill. The lugs 24 are adapted to receive oscillatingly in the space therebetween the bent finger 23 of rocker T and to impart a rocking motion thereto when the carriage assembly C is pulled or pushed.

The razor R consists in a razor head clamping plate 25, a secondary clamping plate 21, a blade 28, a pivoted clamping plate 29, a bracket 30, bracket side arms 3|, a hollow handle 32, an inner shaft 33, and an operating knob 34 integral with shaft 33.

The clampin plate 25 is a transversely curved plate provided with end flanges right-angularly directed and extending beyond the sides of said plate. Each end of the oppositely corresponding flanges 15 is joined with the other by a longitud inal comb guard 26 spaced from the side of clamping plate 25. Each flange 15 is furthermore provided centrally with a locating transverse slot 1| which engages each side-arm 3! of bracket 30. Said plate 25 thus forms a shallow arcuate body adaptedtq receive in its concave face the other head elements of the razor R. The plate 25 is furthermore provided on its inner surface with an internally threaded sleeve 35 right angularly projecting therefrom and adapted removably to engage co-operatingly, through apertures provided centrally therein, the plate 21, the blade 28, the p ate 29 and internally the hollow handle 32. On the other hand, the inner threads of said sleeve 35 are removably engaged by the threaded end-of inner shaft 33.

Secondary clamping plate 21 is a rectangular member the top of which is curved transversely to fit the inner surface of plate 25 and provided on its flat-bottomed surface with at least two bayonet joints 36 and two end slots 38 adapted to engage respectively the registering apertures 31 and lugs 39 of pivoted clamping plate 29, coa-cting therewith. Plate 21 is furthermore transversey apertured centrally to receive sleeve 35.

As stated before, the blade 28 is a Gillettetype blade, rectangular in shape, provided on each of its sides with a cutting edge 18 and a central longitudinal aperture 11 adapted to receive therethrough the sleeve 35 and bayonet joints 36. When the blade 28 is thus received into plate 25, the cutting edge 18 of said blade projects through the space comprised between the sides of said plate 25 and the comb guard 25, and cooperate with said sides of plate 25.

The camping plate 29 is a rectangular member provided on its inner flat surface with at least two apertures 31 and lugs 39. When the razor is assembled, the apertures 31 are adapted to be engaged in registering assembly by bayonet joints 36 of clamping plate 21, whereas lugs 39 project through apertures 11 of razor blade and are received in registering assembly by end-slots 38 of clamping plate 21.

The ends of said plate 29 are pivotally secured to the end of side arms 3! of bracket 3|] by means of short pivots 19 extending therefrom. Plate 21 is furthermore transversely apertured centrally to, receive sleeve 25;

The hollow handle 32 is a tubular member open at both ends and adapted to receive rotatably into its body the inner shaft 33. The bottom end of said handle 32 being secured to the centre of bracket 30 which is also transversely apertured centrally to receive sleeve 35. Near the top of said hollow handle and projecting therein is a short lug 16.

The inner shaft 33 is threaded at its bottom end and is provided at the top with a knurled operating knob 34 having a depending flange 14 which normally rotatably rests on the circumferential edge of hollow handle 32 and thus checks the length of insertion of said inner shaft therein. Below said flange M the inner shaft is grooved at 12 and is adapted to engage rotatably the short lug 16 and prevent accidental extraction of the inner shaft from its container, the hollow handle 32.

The razor R is assembled by inserting the threaded sleeve 35 through the central apertures of plate 21, blade 28, plate 29 and bracket 30 and is received by inner shaft 33 to which it is screwed by means of operating knob 34, the bayonet joints of plate 21 engaging the registering apertures of plate 29. I

To hone or strop the blade, the razor head clamping plate 25 is unscrewed by means of operating knob 34 and the remaining elements of the razor are inserted between the slide plates l3 and M of carriage C. The side arms 3| slidably engaging the slots 69 of channel members It and the ends of the blade 28 resting centrally on the rocker arms 22, 1

When the razor thus inserted is given a horizontal back and forth motion, it imparts a likewise motion to carriage C and the blade support ing rocking arms 22 will allow alternately each side of the cutting edge of blade 28 to contact slidably the honing or stropping surface l2 of casing S, and thus will cause the blade sharpened.

It will be easily understood that the invention described above oflers many advantages over the prior art: the razor blade does not have to be withdrawn from its holder to be honed and may be used many times before bein changed for a new one; the carriage in the sharpening casing issimple and has a minimum of moving parts;

the same advantages are found in the razor holder.

The present invention is accordingly considered to be an advance of the art insomuch as it ing element therein, a carriage frictionally-slidable longitudinally in said casing, a blade holder adapted to grip a blade pivotally, said holder removably insertable into said carriage whereby the edges of said blade are disposed transverse the casing, and means on the carriage for automatically rocking the bade to bring alternate edges thereof into contact with said element when the carriage is reciprocated'longitudinally.

2. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a casing having an abrading element therein, a blade holder, said to be holder having blade-clamping means pivotally secured thereto, a carriage frictionally-slidable longitudinally in said casing adapted to removably receive said blade holder so that the edges of the blade are disposed transverse the casing, and means on the carriage for automatically rocking the blade to bring alternate edges thereof into contact with said element when the carriage is reciprocated longitudinally.

3. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a casing having an abrading element therein, a blade holder, said holder having blade-clamping means pivotally secured thereto, a carriage frictionally-slidable longitudinally in said casing adapted to removably receive said blade holder so that the edges of the blade are disposed transverse the casing, and means on the carriage for automatically rocking the blade to bring alternate edges thereof into contact with said element when the carriage is reciprocated longitudinally, said rocking means having members adapted to abut the blade for the purpose of positively pivoting the latter.

4. The combination with a device as claimed in claim 3, of said blade holder adapted to serve as a component part of a safety razor and coinprising an elongated handle and a yoked extremity, and said blade clamping means pivotally secured in said yoked extremity.

5. In a device as claimed in claim 2 said carriage and rocking means comprising: a pair of side plates slidable adjacent the longitudinal edges of said element, stays rigidly connecting said plates, a T-shaped plate pivotally connected centrally to each of said side plates having fingers projecting from the lateral members thereof for the purpose of abutting the under surface of the blade, a projection on the main member of each of said T-shaped plates, a shoe disposed between each of the latter and the sides of the casing, and said shoes frictionally slidable against the casing sides and engageable with said projections, whereby said shoes drag behind the carriage during reciprocation of the latter and cause tilting of the T-shaped plates in alternate directions, and said projecting fingers transmit a corresponding tilting to the blade.

ALBERT E. DONOVAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 580,231 Silberstein Apr. 6, 1897 1,182,440 Wyckoff May 9, 1916 1,284,059 Cook Nov. 5, 1918 1,432,949 Behrman Oct. 24, 1922 1,558,990 Leimberg Oct. 27, 1925 1,598,147 Mickelsen Aug. 31, 1926 1,955,759 Murrin Apr. 24, 1934 2,024,272 Brown Dec. 17, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 376,067 Germany May 23, 1923 416,910 Great Britain Dec. 19, 1932 

